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The song “Beef” by Chicago recording artist Lil Reese, soundtrack for the deadly confrontation between 17-year-old Jordan Davis and Michael Dunn, 47, is a “classically boastful” hip-hop song laced with coarse language and mentions of violence that nonetheless could be interpreted as “a love ballad to one’s friends,” according to a Harvard-based researcher.

Testimony in Dunn’s first-degree murder trial continued Friday. Dunn, who is white, shot Davis, who was black, after complaining about the “thug music” coming from the parked SUV Davis shared with three other teenagers. Dunn has said he fired in self-defense.

The name of the song and the performer were provided by John M. Phillips, the attorney representing Davis’ parents, in an email to the Times-Union.

Editor's note:The following link to content that contains language that some may find offensive.

“Beef” is “classically boastful, and conceptually related to the ‘rep your hood’ and ‘ride or die’ mentality often showcased in hip-hop song,” said Allyson M. McGinty, assistant to the director at the Hiphop Archive & Research Institute at Harvard University.

At the request of the Times-Union, McGinty reviewed “Beef” for subject matter and agreed to comment on its meaning. The lyrics are graphic and contain many words the Times-Union does not publish.

This is the hook after the song’s intro:

“F--- n-----, you don’t want no beef,

(F--- n----, you don’t want no beef.)

In the field, we play for keeps,

(n the field, we play for keeps).

OTF and GBE,

(OTF and GBE)

300 b----, that’s the team,

(300 b----, that’s the team.)”

“Throughout the song,” McGinty said via email, “Lil Reese and guest rappers Fredo Santana (who happens to be Lil Reese’s cousin) and Lil Durk make claims about the violence that’ll be perpetrated to anyone who threatens their Chicago gang (referenced as 2414, and known as the Black Disciples Nation), his family (referenced as OTF, or Only The Family), and his record label, GBE (Glory Boyz Entertainment).

“Lil Reese and his fellow rappers are out to establish the supremacy of their clique (‘that’s the team’), and want to be clear that they will do so by any means necessary.”

Interestingly, McGinty said, “he uses the phrase ‘you don’t want no beef’ in the hook; rather than challenging possible competitors and directly engaging in violence, he’s almost using the threat of violence to keep the peace. He promises swift retribution to anyone who should challenge their dominance or credibility, however.

“The line ‘L’s up for my hittaz’ is also a significant one, as it stems from their membership in the Black Disciples street gang. Three of the six points on the six-pointed star used by the BD’s reference the street code of love, life and loyalty.”

McGinty offered some perspective on the 21-year-old rapper.

“There is a certain level of violence and criminality automatically associated with Lil Reese and his label, GBE. The CEO of the label, fellow rapper Chief Keef, is a known Chicago gang member, has been arrested multiple times on various drug charges, and is currently serving jail time for violating probation. Lil Reese himself has been arrested for theft and burglary, and gained a great deal of notoriety outside of the Chicago music scene when a video surfaced of him violently assaulting a young woman.”

Overall, “this type of song is quite common in what some might call the ‘gangsta rap’ genre,” McGinty said. “The song paints a picture of life in a gang or on the streets, where protection from the police seems minimal, and individuals are forced to protect themselves through violent means.

“On the surface this song seems quite vicious and rather brutal, however to the average hip-hop listener, this song is more like a love ballad to one’s friends. It expresses, in rather violent terms, the measures Lil Reese would undertake to keep his friends and family safe, and the loyalty he has towards his loved ones.”

In fact, McGinty said, “Hip-hop listeners, even those who had never participated in anything remotely like what is described by Lil Reese, would certainly be able to relate to these concepts and emotions, and thus would enjoy the song.

“While Lil Reese is certainly not the most intellectual rapper on the market, nor particularly renowned for his lyrical skill, the song’s popularity with the young hip-hop set makes sense. And it is definitely the type of song a young man might enjoy blasting while riding around town with his best friends.”

According to its website, The Hiphop Archive at Harvard was officially established by cultural anthropologist Marcyliena Morgan in 2002, and is overseen by Harvard’s W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. The institute is “committed to supporting and establishing a new type of research and scholarship devoted to the knowledge, art, culture, materials, organizations, movements and institutions of hiphop.”

“Beef” is “classically boastful, and conceptually related to the ‘rep your hood’ and ‘ride or die’ mentality often showcased in hip-hop song,” said Allyson M. McGinty, assistant to the director at the Hiphop Archive & Research Institute at Harvard University.

Thank you for educating me. It amazes me that any university actually has a
"Hiphop Archive & Research Institute." Liberalism at its finest. When I was growing up "Hiphop" would be called s**t, along with the so called "artists." It makes me glad to see society progressing in such a positive direction.